Sarnath

Sarnath (formally Isipathana), located just 13 kilometres from Varanasi, is the deer park where Gautama Buddha first proclaimed the Dharma to the world. He taught two discourses here, the Dhammacakkhapavathana Sutta and the deep Anattalakhana Sutta.

At Sarnath is the Asoka's pillar, the decaying ruins of the Mulagandhakuti and the Dharmek Stupa. To the east is the modern Mulagandhakuti Vihara with its beautiful wall paintings and behind it the Deer Park (where deer are still to be seen). The Sarnath Museum houses some of the greatest treasures of Indian Buddhist art (Asoka's lion capital and the beautiful Teaching Buddha)